That is undemocratic. The politicians are putting their own Self interest before the interest of the citizens. You should never exclude any partij no matter how much you disagree with one another.

By sandraV | March 5, 2010 12:02 PM

It is impossible for any party to work with the PVV on their idiotic precondition of a headscarf ban alone.
Pity, the PVV should be put into government, that will expose them for who they are; people with no answers to the issues, but only capable of slinging mud and creating discord with their rhetoric of hate. Let us watch Almere, the aging white population who voted for them will be shaking their fists at the same PVV in a few months. Step aside and hand it over to the PVV, they will bury themselves.

By AC | March 5, 2010 3:29 PM

Of course this is democratic. In no place in a democratic society does it say that political parties have to work together.

A political party should look for allies to maximise their chances for getting their vision realised. This usually means that they will work together with another party that has a similar view on society so you have a common goal most of the time/issues.

PvdA and PVV share very few common views on society, so for them to work together would indeed be very difficult.

You should always exclude other parties where their view is dis-simmilar to your own - that is your responsability as a political party. It would unfair to the people that voted for you if you didn't, and you would neglect your responsibilities as a politician in my view.

By Tor | March 5, 2010 3:35 PM

bit nieve sandra politicians ALWAYS put themselves before the interests of the citizens, GO GEERT GO at least GEERT has the balls to speeak the truth!

By kenp | March 5, 2010 4:21 PM

Coalition politics is ALL about give and take. While we, the citizens for whom politicians are supposed to act, cannot know what happens behind closed doors - the PVV has shown NO indication thus far of 'giving' on any of their standpoints, so in my mind, it is THEY who are opting out of the democratic process and putting their own self-interest before those of the citizens (who by the way, were NOT all their voters.)

By dv | March 5, 2010 5:27 PM

"Undemocratic?"
Even for the sake of protecting religious freedom in nederland?

By eslaporte | March 5, 2010 7:12 PM

Tor, you say PvdA and PVV share very few common views on society? Yet, PVDA has went out of it´s way to copy Geert Wilders stance on Immigration, import Brides etc. As a matter of fact, every one of those hypocritical left wing partijs have taken a stab at Muslims, immigration, integration in a negative way in order try to steal votes away from Wilders. There are no more left wing partijs in the Netherlands, get use to it.

By SandraV. | March 6, 2010 3:47 PM